THE ONE LOVE PROJECT
The One Love Project aims to provide a safe and creatively stimulating learning environment for the children of a traditional Rajasthani gypsy community located on the perimeter wastelands of Pushkar, India.
The One Love project was born when five friends journeyed through India and experienced firsthand the desperate need of the children there.
Background to the project: It was while volunteering at Pushkar’s Joshua Play Project, that they discovered there were more children in gypsy encampments in the area. These children were sent by their parents onto the streets, to support not just themselves, but their families by begging from the numerous tourists. The One Love Project hopes that instead of a career of begging on the streets of Pushkar, the children will be both educated and stimulated in a creative way. Music, dancing, happiness and laughter are right at the heart of One Love.
The name of the project has been taken from the famous Bob Marley song, as he is revered with guru status by the locals, and the project aim is to keep sharing his message of love, peace and equality. The aim is to bring hope and a brighter future to these children, create a safe space full of fun, music and laughter. Secure with love and support the children will rise above their social circumstances and look forward to making a great contribution to Pushkar’s future.
The Project Now: The One Love Project has been running for one year and currently has 18 children, funded by sponsorship, to attend the town’s local private Parasha School, where they receive a rich curriculum and support in all core areas of learning. The children are accompanied, after their formal morning lessons at the school, to the One Love Project, where they are provided with a healthy midday meal and a teacher gives them further assistance with their homework. There are plenty of opportunities for children to play and explore their own culture in visual and expressive arts.
The cost of running the project: Charitable donations by the founding friends and supporters have provided the project with a building and monsoon proof covering, gas and a fresh water tank for cooking wholesome meals and providing clean drinking water for the children. A local teacher has been employed for homework help and further educational support. Art and music supplies, blackboard and learning apparatus have also been purchased with donations.
It currently costs £50 a year to keep each child enrolled in Parasha School and an extra £220 a month is needed for the running costs of the project – this is to cover food, water, power and payments to the project manager, teacher and cook.
Current funding status: One girl who helped with the build contributed to the start up costs by donating all her money she had earned from teaching Yoga in the town. Members of the One Love team run a jewellery company called Gypsy East and during the build they designed a One Love pendant. All of the profit from the £10 necklace went directly to fund the project. The project also receives donations, money from sponsored runs and they are also looking to hook up with The Pipe Dream Experience to raise some money from a one-off event in London.
Future plans for the project: The primary plan is to move The Project’s site, currently at the base of the gypsy camp, to an official location where the children can play, learn and develop with greater protection. The aim is to establish a recognised charity that will provide the children with the basic rights of every child: education, play and staying healthy. The entire team are heading back to India over the next few months to work on relocating the project.
Follow the One Love project’s progress on Facebook and Instagram or email the team at theoneloveprojectpushkar@gmail.com.